Author PR Services
UK
Publicity has a reputation for being mysterious, and some of that is deserved. Much of it comes down to a short list of practical tasks done carefully: finding the angle, writing it down, choosing who to tell, and following up politely. This page sets out what we do, what you receive, and the honest limits of PR, because no one can control what a journalist decides to print.
Author PR, also called book publicity, is the work of presenting an author and their book to journalists, editors, hosts and organisers who might cover it. At British Publishers we prepare the material, build a targeted list and pitch on your behalf. We cannot promise coverage, exposure or visibility. The media decide that. Our job is to give your book a clear, well-prepared case.
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What does author PR include?
Finding the angle
What makes this book of interest to someone outside your circle: a story, an anniversary, a local connection, a subject in the news.
A press release
A short, factual document written for journalists, with your contact details and a photograph.
A media list
A targeted list of publications, programmes and writers whose interests fit your book, built for this book rather than reused.
Pitch emails
Short, personal messages to the right person, not a mass mailing.
Follow-up
One or two polite follow-ups, and a record of replies.
A short report
What was sent, to whom, and what came back.
Book publicity services UK: PR or marketing?
Marketing promotes a book through channels you control. PR asks other people to cover it. Marketing might be an advertisement, a social post or a mailing. PR is a pitch to a journalist, who may say no. The two work together, and you can have either without the other. For the first, see our book marketing service.
How an author PR campaign runs
| Stage | What happens | Your part |
|---|---|---|
| Brief | We read the book and talk about your aims and any news hooks | Tell us what is true and interesting about the book |
| Preparation | We write the press release and build the media list | Check facts and supply photographs |
| Pitching | We send pitches to the people on the list, timed with publication or an event | Be available for interviews |
| Follow-up | We follow up politely and keep a record | Respond promptly to requests |
| Review | A short report on what was sent and what came back | Decide what to do next |
Do self-published authors need PR?
Not always, and we will tell you so. A book with a clear news angle, a launch or a local event often suits PR. A book with a narrow audience may be better served by a mailing list, a talk or a specialist community. We would rather tell you that PR is not the right step than take a fee for a campaign with little to say.
Publicity for new authors
A first book usually has fewer contacts behind it, which makes the angle more important. Local newspapers and radio, specialist magazines and community groups are often more open to a first-time author than national outlets. We cannot promise any of them will respond. We can make the case clear and the contact easy.
Launch PR and events
A launch gives journalists a date and a reason to write. If you are planning one, see our book launch event planning service, which covers the event itself, while this page covers pitching around it.
What we do not do
We do not buy coverage, invent endorsements or describe relationships with media contacts that we cannot document. We do not name outlets or journalists on this page, and we will not promise that a pitch will lead to an article, an interview or a review.
Cost and timing
Both depend on the scope and the length of the campaign. We quote in writing after reading the book. We do not publish a headline price or a "from" figure on this page.
What makes a good press release
Short, factual and easy to use. It opens with the news, such as a publication, an event or a story behind the book, rather than with praise. It gives the title, the author, the publication date and where the book can be bought, adds one quotation from the author, and ends with a contact and a photograph. A journalist who is short of time should be able to see the story in the first two sentences.
How we choose who to contact
Relevance comes before volume. For each book we look for people who have written or spoken about similar subjects, and we read their recent work before we write. We use publicly available professional contact details and stop when asked. A short list of well-matched contacts is likely to serve you better than a long list of poor matches.
Preparing for interviews
If a request comes in, preparation helps. We can help you decide the two or three points you want to make, the questions you might be asked and how to describe the book in a sentence.
Frequently Asked Questions
Still need help? Contact us
+44 20398 08310
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What is author PR?
Author PR is the work of introducing an author and their book to journalists, editors, hosts and other people who might cover it. It involves writing, targeting, pitching and following up, and the media decide what to publish.
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How can PR help an author?
It can put a book in front of people who might not otherwise hear of it, and it produces material, such as a press release and a media list, that you can use again. It cannot promise coverage.
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Do self-published authors need PR?
Not always. PR suits a book with a clear news angle, a launch or an event. If the book has little to say to a general audience, other routes, such as a mailing list or events, may serve better.
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How can a new author get publicity?
Start with a clear angle, a short press release, a good photograph and a small, well-chosen list of people to contact. Local and specialist outlets often suit a first book. Be patient, and polite when following up.
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What is the difference between book marketing and book PR?
Marketing promotes a book through channels you can control, such as advertising and social media. PR seeks coverage from people outside your control, such as journalists and hosts.
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How long does an author PR campaign take?
It varies. Material needs preparing before pitching, and journalists work to their own schedules. We agree a plan with dates after seeing your book. Nobody can promise when, or whether, coverage will appear.
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How much do author PR services cost in the UK?
There is no single price. Cost depends on the scope, such as materials only or a full campaign, and on the length of the campaign. We quote in writing and state what is included.
Talk to us
Tell us about your book and any events or news hooks around it, and we will say plainly whether PR is the right step.
